Opposition Leader Nika Gvaramia Released After Eight Months in Prison

2026-02-12 - 08:37

Nika Gvaramia, leader of the opposition Ahali party, was released from Rustavi prison on February 12 after serving an eight-month sentence for refusing to appear before the disputed Parliament’s so-called Tsulukiani Commission. “I have mixed emotions. Of course, I’m happy to see my family [...], but I feel uncomfortable knowing that people are still there [in prisons],” Gvaramia told journalists in his first comments after leaving the prison. “This country will never be the same as it was before their arrests. We must all understand that without these people, victory will be difficult for us, if it is possible at all. Therefore, we must get them out of prison very soon.” Gvaramia was arrested on June 13 after refusing to post bail in the case, in which he was accused of not complying with a request from the disputed Parliament’s temporary investigative commission to appear for questioning. The parliamentary commission, led by Georgian Dream veteran Tea Tsulukiani, examined alleged misdeeds by former officials. Gvaramia was sentenced on July 1 to eight months in jail after being found guilty of the offense. He was among eight people, including six current opposition leaders, who were sentenced to several months in prison for defying the commission of a parliament they do not recognize as legitimate. Gvaramia is the fourth opposition politician to complete a full sentence. Zurab Japaridze, leader of the Girchi-More Freedom party, was the first to leave prison on December 19. He was followed by Giorgi Vashadze, leader of Strategy Aghmashenebeli, who was released on January 23, and former United National Movement lawmaker Givi Targamadze, who completed his jail term on January 26. Two others, Lelo leaders Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, were released in early September after being pardoned by the Georgian Dream-elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili, amid the party’s decision to participate in the October 4 municipal elections. Two others who remain behind bars – Ahali’s Nika Melia and former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili – had their sentences extended after being found guilty in separate cases while already imprisoned. Melia was sentenced in November to an additional year in prison after being found guilty of contempt of court. Okruashvili was convicted of abuse of power in connection with a 2004 killing case and is expected to remain in prison for four more years. Initially tasked with probing alleged misconduct by the former ruling United National Movement, the Georgian Dream commission, headed by GD veteran member Tea Tsulukiani, expanded its scope to target all major opposition party leaders. The commission concluded its work in August 2025 with a 470-page report, which Georgian Dream has cited in a Constitutional Court lawsuit seeking to ban the United National Movement and what it calls “affiliated” opposition parties. Nika Gvaramia is also among eight opposition figures facing sabotage-related charges that carry potential prison terms of two to four years. Four others – Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaridze, Zurab Japaridze, and Giorgi Vashadze – have been granted bail as a pretrial measure and said they would post it. Also Read: 09/02/2026 – Jailed Opposition Politician Nika Melia Faces New Charges 01/10/2025 – Opposition Member Gela Khasaia Sentenced to Pretrial Detention 15/09/2025 – Update: Elene Khoshtaria Detained Amid Criminal Probe on ‘Damaging’ Kaladze Banners 05/09/2025 – Khazaradze, Japaridze Say Kavelashvili’s Pardon ‘Manipulation’ as They Leave Prison